I Am The Years You Are The Stars Episode 9 Recap
> I Am The Years You Are The Stars Recap
In the morgue, Jin Xiaoyu confided in Jiang Baiju, reminiscing about her childhood dream of being cured. She had believed that recovery would bring countless wonderful days, making her just like a normal person. However, as she grew up, she realized that even after being cured, she would still be an ordinary person, facing mundane tasks like working and blind dates. She concluded that being cured was nothing extraordinary, simply making her "just a normal person."
Yet, she admitted that sometimes she couldn't help but envy normal people. Jiang Baiju, moved by her words, confessed that he too longed for an ordinary life. Suddenly, Jin Xiaoyu leaned closer, proposing they try dating like normal people. Jiang Baiju's heart began to pound intensely, on the verge of triggering a mutation, so he quickly took her hand to regain his composure. As the atmosphere grew intimate, Master unexpectedly entered the operation room.
Jin Xiaoyu quickly covered Jiang Baiju with a cloth, attempting to hide him. Master, unaware of Jiang Baiju, left after a brief, confused exchange with Jin Xiaoyu about seeing a "handsome guy." Meanwhile, Qian Cheng and Qian Tu were enjoying a round of golf at their newly developed resort. Their game was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Mrs. Dao, who had been sent by William to pick up Qian Cheng.
Qian Tu cleverly diverted her attention by suggesting she tour the anniversary celebration venue, which Mrs. Dao readily agreed to, seemingly forgetting her original intention to fetch Qian Cheng. Later, William, Jiang Baiju's current guardian, led Jin Xiaoyu into a dark, eerie secret room within the study for her guardianship ritual. Before they entered, William explained that the Dao family had protected Jiang Baiju for eighty years, and Jin Xiaoyu was the first non-family guardian.
He informed her that from 11 PM to 1 AM, she must not leave Jiang Baiju's side, no matter what transpired, as this two-hour ritual would formalize her guardianship. William ominously suggested she might be the shortest-serving guardian, dependent on her short lifespan. Once inside, Jin Xiaoyu inadvertently stumbled upon another hidden chamber, filled with various restraint devices. Startled and realizing the room's grim purpose, she attempted to flee, but the door sealed shut.
At Zi Shi, Jiang Baiju, now in a maniacal state, chased Jin Xiaoyu relentlessly. She stumbled, trapped, but seeing Jiang Baiju's struggle to contain himself and avoid harming her, she softly called his name. Her words broke through his frenzy, and he slowly returned to his human form. Witnessing his agony, Jin Xiaoyu held his face, her eyes full of heartache, feeling a deep compassion. It was in this moment that she embraced her role as his guardian.
Jiang Baiju then revealed his past: On November 30th, 1938, he was tasked with transporting crucial blueprints to Southern Yunnan for airport construction. His plane was shot down by Japanese forces, and he parachuted into the deep valleys of Shenlong Snow Mountain. It was there that his nightly mutations began. He further explained that any strong emotion, whether joy or sorrow, caused his heart to pound rapidly, triggering the painful transformation.
He also revealed that after escaping Shenlong Snow Mountain, he rescued the Dao family's ancestor, Dao Xiuxiu's father, which led to the Dao family's centuries-long guardianship. Separately, outside the secret room, William and his assistant discussed Mrs. Dao's strategy and William's own plan. William explained his grandmother's intent to use Jin Xiaoyu as a temporary guardian due to her short lifespan, intending for William to resume the role after Jin Xiaoyu's demise.
Defying his grandmother's instruction to observe from outside, William decided to release Jiang Baiju from the hibernation chamber to frighten Jin Xiaoyu into quitting. He reasoned that while Jiang Baiju knew Jin Xiaoyu could suppress his mutation, Jin Xiaoyu herself did not. In this same conversation, William also recounted family lore: during a turbulent wartime, Jiang Baiju had saved his great-grandfather multiple times, even seemingly dying and reviving during these acts.
Out of gratitude, his great-grandfather swore that the Dao family would protect their savior for generations. William admitted he knew nothing of Jiang Baiju's true nature, origin, or ultimate fate, only that the encounter occurred at Shenlong Snow Mountain, a place rumored to contain a secluded village. He speculated that Jiang Baiju might originate from this village, and perhaps Jin Xiaoyu, being the only one capable of suppressing his mutations, might also hail from there.
He added that Mrs. Dao had visited the Snow Mountain decades ago but found no clues, as the landscape had changed beyond recognition. Later, William spoke with Mrs. Dao, who called him "child," about the guardianship. William tried to persuade her to appoint Qian Cheng as the guardian instead of Jin Xiaoyu, emphasizing Qian Cheng's loyalty and his reluctance to see his "brother" sacrificed.
Mrs. Dao, however, remained resolute, citing her duty to protect Jiang Baiju at all costs, a lesson passed down from her own father to use "any means necessary." She admitted she was a "selfish old woman" who might go to hell, but for Jiang Baiju and her family's children, she was willing. She also pragmatically stated that sacrificing a sick child like Jin Xiaoyu was "more cost-effective" than healthy young people.
Jin Xiaoyu, now fully embracing her role as Jiang Baiju's "painkiller" and guardian, playfully asserted her authority, demanding his cooperation in finding clues for her own illness. Despite his fear of renewed disappointment after a century of fruitless searching, she insisted that they work together, urging him not to give up hope. William later spoke to Qian Tu on the phone, confirming that certain arrangements had been made regarding Qian Cheng's extended "vacation."
Jiang Baiju met Jin Xiaoyu again, surprising her. She playfully accused him of stalking, but he dismissed it, handing her surveillance footage from a convenience store in the downtown village, hoping it would be useful in her investigation concerning Tan Yueran. Jin Xiaoyu noted that the new cameras suggested someone had anticipated Jiang Baiju's presence. Jiang Baiju, however, appeared indifferent, even expressing a desire for death. He simply advised Jin Xiaoyu to be cautious.
At the coffee shop, Tan Yueran had successfully redesigned the promotional webpage, earning considerable gratitude from Fu Liang, whose demeanor towards her had significantly softened. Jin Xiaoyu observed their interaction, her anger flaring as she suspected Tan Yueran of illicitly obtaining information about Cai Miao, the heart donor, through Fu Liang. Jiang Baiju swiftly intervened, preventing Jin Xiaoyu from confronting Tan Yueran directly.
Inside, Fu Liang confided in Tan Yueran, explaining that he remained in the city to heal from past emotional wounds, following a psychologist's advice to forget. He felt it was time to embark on a new life, to avoid living in the "illusory beauty" of his past memories. Tan Yueran was visibly pained by his words. Later, Jin Xiaoyu and Cheng Weilan went to Tan Yueran's school dorm, intending to clarify matters face-to-face.
They discovered that Tan Yueran, as a postgraduate, had moved out after her heart surgery and rarely stayed there. They spoke with Tan Yueran's dormmate, who remarked on Tan Yueran's dramatic change—becoming quiet, pale, and with bluish lips—making her appearance unsettling. The dormmate attributed these changes to her heart condition or something inexplicable by science, concluding that Tan Yueran seemed destined for trouble.
